<p>Hello, CC and MIT subforum. In the midst of all the senior stuff going around and whatnot, I was wondering if someone would have time to take a quick look at my post...</p>
<p>First of all, let me explain my situation. I am currently a junior at a high school in an extremely rural area. There are ~125 people in my high school - and it's public. Obviously, we don't have the resources available to hire AP or IB teachers. APUSH is offered at one quasi-nearby high school (their only AP, and this is the first year it's been offered). However, my school is generally regarded as being better academically, despite our lack of APs.</p>
<p>The sole saving grace for all this is the nearby junior college. Any serious high school student enrolls in a few (or more than a few) courses there. I'm currently on track to take two semesters of calculus there next year, in addition to chemistry and possibly a robotics course. This year, I was given permission to self-study AP CS A during an elective slot. I will also be self-studying AP Physics and AP Calc AB/BC to supplement my high school's honors courses.</p>
<p>Chris, Mollie, Piper - What are your thoughts? Any others are welcomed to chime in, too.</p>
<p>I think you’ll definitely be considered within the context of your school and area, and it seems like you’ve taken good initiative in your education. So, I think the fact that your area lacks APs won’t hurt you because that’s something outside of your control. Also, I think the initiative you took to learn more and pursue your interests will help you.</p>
<p>^ What Chris said. He’s an official source, so that should stand But if it’s any comfort, in my experience and what I’ve seen of my classmates, people really do come from a large variety of backgrounds. Initiative will trump any lack of opportunity :)</p>
<p>I think it’s important to take a step back during the admissions process and remember that, regardless of what crazy things anybody else has the opportunity to do, it is pretty cool that you’ve taken the initiative to learn on your own and aren’t letting your school’s limitations hold you back. Learning to take responsibility for your own education is a skill that will help you tremendously in college (and maybe in grad school), whether you end up at MIT or somewhere else. </p>
<p>I understand that this is a very worrisome time of year, and I certainly don’t mean to chastise you, but take a step back and ask yourself – how could it possibly be bad that you’ve taken some of your advanced math and science classes at a college instead of at your high school?</p>
<p>Thank you all for the thoughtful replies. It’s so nice to have some outside opinions on the subject. Whether or not any courses transfer isn’t a big deal to me right now. I’m guessing that because of my background, standardized test scores will play a big part in my application, and that’s fine. If I’m able to show what I’ve learned, that’s all I can ask for.</p>
<p>@Mollie: No chastisement taken :). I appreciate the time.</p>
<p>I won’t pretend to know anything, but I would personally think that in your case, your school’s lack of AP actually helps you. I, for example, go to a pretty competitive public high school which offers most of the major APs (bio, physics, chem, env, calc ab/bc, etc.). For me, I have all the opportunities presented in front of me, making it easier and more convenient to take all those classes. In your case, you don’t have those opportunities, but your particular case, you had the initiative to take all of those courses at the junior college. In this sense, MIT or any other university is able to visibly see that you are passionate about science and independent. I think this actually gives you an edge over an applicant who took all the standard AP science and math classes. Once again, not an adcom, but that is just what would make logical sense to me.</p>
<p>I don’t understand that last comment at all. As I read it, the OP should feel grateful that his school did not offer AP’s so that he had the opportunity to show initiative by going to the local Junior College, as opposed to those poor students who have everything offered to them on a plate and therefore do not have the ability to show initiative, as there is nothing to show initiative about. HUH??? If you think that just because your school offers AP math and science courses, you now have no way to demonstrate initiative, then clearly there is a flaw in your logic.</p>
But if it’s any comfort, in my experience and what I’ve seen of my classmates, people really do come from a large variety of backgrounds. Initiative will trump any lack of opportunity :)</p>